Stark County residents waking up early Wednesday were told something you never want to hear in an emergency: the county’s 9-1-1 lines were down. County officials asked callers to temporarily switch to the sheriff’s office main number while technicians work to get the system back online. Dispatchers are still on duty and taking emergency calls, and authorities are pleading with residents to keep phone lines open for true life-or-death situations.
Where to call while 911 is down
In a Facebook alert from the Stark County Sheriff’s Office, the agency posted, “Important announcement: 911 lines are currently down,” and directed anyone needing help to call the sheriff’s main line at (330) 430-3800, then press 0 to reach dispatch. The department noted that county dispatchers will continue handling emergency calls at that number while technicians work on restoring normal 9-1-1 service.
Confirmed contact details
The sheriff’s office main number, (330) 430-3800, is not just a social media one-off. It also appears on official state documents, including a bulletin from the Ohio Attorney General, giving residents an established alternate contact. Sheriff Eric Weisburn, who heads the department, has been featured for his role in county operations in a profile by WOSU, underscoring the office’s central role in public safety.
Dispatch systems and other options
Stark County’s Regional Emergency Dispatch Center and its partner PSAPs ordinarily field emergency calls across the county, and contact information plus its Massillon address are listed on the center’s site. The Regional Emergency Dispatch Center details local dispatch resources, and Stark County has also offered Text-to-911 for texting-capable devices since 2023, a tool that can help people who are unable to place voice calls. The rollout of that service was covered by WHBC.
What to do now
If you are facing a life-threatening emergency and a 9-1-1 call does not go through, officials say to use a landline or another mobile device to call the sheriff’s main number at (330) 430-3800 and press 0 to reach dispatch, or use Text-to-911 where it is available. For non-urgent situations, residents are encouraged to stick to municipal non-emergency phone lines or online reporting options so that the backup lines stay open for critical calls…